Introduction: There has been quite a bit of discussion concerning the use of +P ammunition in the alloy framed S&W model 12s (M12). The M12, or the “.38 Military and Police Airweight,” debuted in 1952 and was discontinued in 1986 with the -4 engineering change. Throughout its entire production run, it carried the limitation of not being blessed by the manufacturer for use with +P ammunition. However, this forum, and I suspect many others, have hosted numerous debates about the feasibility, safety, and/or prudence of firing +P ammo through a “vintage” model 12. The spectrum of positions on this issue is as wide as the group size from a Taurus revolver, but all positions fit fairly nicely into the three categories below.

* NEVER fire +P ammo through a model 12. The possible consequences exceed the benefits. If the frame cracks, the factory will not repair it.

* SOME +P can be fired through a model 12. Practice predominantly with standard pressure .38s and finish off your session with a couple of cylinders full of +P.

* SHOOT as much +P as you want (or can afford). It will produce no more wear on a model 12 then it will on any other S&W revolver.

To the best of my knowledge, nobody has conducted, or at least published a report on, a quantitative test to see how many – if any – rounds of +P a model 12 can handle before incurring some sort of fatal career ending failure (such as a cracked frame). At first, I was going to test an M12 to this point of failure, but wiser forum members convinced me otherwise. As you’ll see in the hypothesis below, I, possibly “we,” will attempt to get 1,000 rounds of commercially manufactured +P ammo fired through the subject revolver. The test will conclude at the 1,000 round mark or at the point the gun breaks.

For ease of reference, I’m imbedding the following unique search term into this topic:

wanker


Hypothesis: That a Smith and Wesson model 12-2 can fire 1,000 commercially produced .38 special +P rounds without damage of a type that cannot be repaired (i.e. the infamous “cracked frame”).

The Test Format: The format is pretty simple. A log will be kept and posted on this forum of the brand, bullet type/weight, product number (if available), lot number (if available), number of rounds fired, and the date in which they were fired. I/we will also post the date and type maintenance performed on the subject gun. The test will conclude when the round count reaches 1,000 (or slightly over) or when the gun breaks to a degree that it can’t be readily repaired.

The Gun: Smith & Wesson Model 12-2, serial number D6542xx (c.’73-’74). I purchased this gun used on September 27, 2003. The gun did NOT have its proprietary wooden grips at the time of purchase and as such, it was equipped with some kind of full wrap around rubber grip. From the day of purchase, to 27 AUG 2007, it has only fired 160 rounds of standard pressure .38 special.

Grip: The current grip is an Uncle Mikes (UM) round butt (RB) boot grip with craft foam inserts installed in the gap between the M12’s narrow frame and the standard frame accommodations of the boot grip (see photo). It will be noted during the testing period if and when the grips, or any other part, are replaced.


M12 in Galco holster

.... Osprey